8/10/2019 Position Paper Format Sample

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I. Introduction

On November 23, 2009, 57 people including 32 journalists and media practitionerswere killed while on their way to Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao. Touted as the worstelection-related violence and the most brutal killing of journalists in recent history, the tragic

incident which came to be known as the “ Maguindanao Massacre” spawned charges for 57counts of murder and an additional charge of rebellion against 197 accused, docketed asCriminal Case Nos. Q-09-162148-72, Q-09-162216-31, Q-10-162652-66, and Q-10-163766,commonly entitled People v. Datu Andal Amapatuan, Jr., et al.

II. Counter Argument

   ___A. Summarize the counterclaims

   ___B. Provide supporting information for counterclaims

   ___C. Refute the counterclaims

   ___D. Give evidence for argument

III. Your Argument

A  . The split between the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus came about when the

former refused to share power in the May 2012 elections. The discussion then was forToto Mangudadatu to run as “unopposed vice governor to partner with an Ampatuansuccessor whom to be Andal Ampatuan Jr. for governor. The refusal of the younger

 Ampatuans, particularly Andal Ampatuan Jr., to share power with Mangudadatu forcedthe Mangudadatus to openly oppose Ampatuans, sufficing the existence of theMangudadatu- Ampatuan political rivalry arising to escalating tensions in the province ofMaguindanao which has been witnessed by the former president Gloria Macapagal

 Arroyo as she mediated between the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus to preventelection-related violence, as they are both members of Lakas-Kampi-CMD. By these weconclude that the Ampatuans could be the possible persons behind these brutal masskillings of press people and Mangudadatu’s family members which happen to be by thattime their greatest political rival clan.

B. Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu had reached reports him that his rivals hadthreatened to chop him into pieces once he filed his COC (Certificate of Candidacy)

C. In a text message sent by Mangudadatu's wife to him, she identified the people thatblocked their way as the men of Ampatuan Jr, and that he himself slapped her.

D.  An excavator  located in the immediate vicinity of the carnage at Ampatuan town was identified as the instrument that was used

to dig the graves of the victims two days beforehand, and then to bury them, including the vehicles.

The perpetrators were not ableto complete the job when a helicopter was spotted in the area. The excavator, emblazoned with the name of Maguindanao Gov.

 Andal Ampatuan Sr., was later identified to belong to the Maguindanao provincial government 

E. Over the past decade, the Ampatuans and their militia have known to have killed,

abducted, and “disappeared” political opponents and their family members and

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supporters, subordinates who disobeyed their orders. And people perceived to have

wronged an Ampatuan family member, according to eyewitnesses, victims’ relatives,

and sources close to the Ampatuans. Their pattern of killings has been reported and

they have engaged in several extra-judicial killings.

F. On December 13, 2009 authorities carried out a raid on a warehouse owned by theAndal Ampatuan Jr.. The raid resulted in the confiscation of more than 330, 000

rounds of 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition, a Humvee, and an improvised armored

vehicle. Captain Nicoclas of Special Forces was able to retrieve more high powered

firearms and ammo after the incident.

G. The susupicious transferring of COMELEC’s branch from Cotabato City to the

 provincial capitol of Shariff Aguak for filing for certificates of candidacy

H. AFP must have been told not to interfere in this purely clan battle in the election by

remaining in their post (a little more than four kilometers from the site of themassacre) and well, the PNP was literally the “bodyguards “of the Ampatuans. 

I. Kenny Dalandag’s as statements as witness.

IV. Conclusion

   ___A. Restate your argument

   ___B. Provide a plan of action